Spirit of British Columbia, all pieced together and ready to be fitted out. June 1992 [© Mr DOT]
This vessel was built in five modules (2 hull & 3 super structure) at different yards & locations. The two hull sections were joined together at the Esquimalt graving dock near Victoria. Then the hull was towed over to Fraser-Surrey docks on the Fraser River (south of Vancouver) where the super structure modules were 'slid' into place. The vessel was dubbed the "Queen of Lego" by some on Canada's west coast due to this method of construction. A sister ship, the Spirit of Vancouver Island was constructed in precisely the same way, a year later.
The 'SoBC' entered service on BC Ferries busiest route (Tsawwassen - Swartz Bay) in the spring of 1993, where she has been ever since. The two 'Spirit class' ships remain the most important vessels on that route.